The Kennedy Tunnel on the Antwerp Ring Road (R1) will be closed for two weekend nights in December, in both directions, for maintenance work on the high-voltage installation, according to the Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV).
There will also be a nighttime closure in one direction for regular maintenance during this period.
AWV will refurbish the high-voltage cells, transformers, and power switches during the high-voltage maintenance. Since there will be no electricity during these works, systems like lighting and ventilation will be non-operational, necessitating the complete closure of the tunnel for safety reasons. This also applies to the Kennedy cycle tunnel.
The maintenance work will be done during the nights of 30 November to 1 December and 7 - 8 December from midnight to 7 a.m. These times were chosen because they have the lowest traffic volume, according to AWV.
During the maintenance, traffic will be diverted over short distances via the Liefkenshoek Tunnel on the R2. For longer distances between Hasselt and Ghent, a diversion via Brussels will be arranged. In the opposite direction, the Temsebrug (N16) is suggested as a better alternative due to ongoing works on the Vilvoorde Viaduct.
On the nights of 2 - 3 December and 3 - 4 December, the Kennedy Tunnel will also be closed for regular maintenance.
The tunnel will be closed in the direction of Ghent on the first night and towards the Netherlands on the second night. However, traffic can be rerouted through the opposing tunnel shaft, to enable it to flow in both directions on a narrowed lane.
